Automatic restoring mechanism for alarm clock shutoff



1951 r E. GORDON 7 AUTOMATIC RESTORING MECHANISM FOR ALARM CLOCK SHUTOFF Filed May 22, 1950 INVENTOR. Edward L. Gordon HIS ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC RESTORING MECHANISM FOR ALARM CLOCK SHUTOFF 12 Claims.

This invention relates to alarm clocks and, in particular, to a mechanism adapted to be incorporated in a clock of conventional character,

which will cause the alarm to go off a second time at the end of a predetermined period subsequent to the initial tripping and manual shutting ofi thereof.

Vairous mechanisms of the type indicated have been proposed heretofore but none of them, to my knowledge, has been made available to the general public, probably because such known mechanisms are so complex, bulky and awkward that they do not lend themselves to being incorporated in a standard, low-priced clock. I have invented a novel mechanism which may readily be applied to ordinary alarm clocks of the type now manufactured in large numbers, without a prohibitive increase in the cost thereof. My improved mechanism is adapted to coact with the ordinary alarm which is included in clocks of standard design.

More specifically, my invention includes a slide movable on the clock frame by the alarm shutoff stem, having a rack pivoted thereon adapted to mesh with a pinion on the minute-hand shaft of the clock. When the stem is pushed down, the rack is disengaged from the pinion. When the stem is released, the rack engages the pinion and is thereby raised after a predetermined time, thus lifting the stem to on position and causing the alarm to go off a second time.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description which refers to the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment outlined above. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view showing the clock case in section and my restoring mechanism in elevation, with the parts in position to cause a second tripping of the alarm at a predetermined time after the initial tripping thereof;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the parts moved to on position.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the case of an ordinary alarm clock indicated at 45 contains the conventional works or movement mounted in a suitable frame (not shown). A slide 42 is movable vertically on the frame by virtue of guide pins 43 extending through slots 43a therein and into the frame, and a guide clip 44 secured to the frame. A lever 45 is pivoted on the slide at 45 and has rack teeth 41 formed on one side of its lower end adapted to mesh with a pinion 48 on the minute-hand shaft of the clock movement. A leaf spring 49 on slide 42 constantly urges the lower end of lever 45 toward pinion 48.

A somewhat T-shaped bell crank 55 is pivoted at 5! on the slide 42 near the upper end thereof and includes a vertical arm 52 (the crossing portion of the T) and a lateral arm 53 (the shaft of the T). Projections 54 extending outwardly from the ends of the arm 52 are adapted to tilt lever 45 clockwise on rocking of the bell crank in either direction, thus disengaging teeth 41 from pinion 48. The bell crank 50 is actuated by the alarm shut-off stem 55 which is slidable through a bearing block 56 and a. thimble 5'! secured thereto. The pin has a projection 58 entering a slot in arm 53. The block and thimble are slidable along the wall of the case for a purpose which will appear shortly. The projection 58 also extends through an angular slot 59 in a laterally extending portion 42a of slide 42. The slot 59 has vertical and horizontal portions. Projections 5B cooperates with the vertical portion to provide a lost-motion connection between pin 55 and slide 42. Vertical movement of pin 55 in either direction first tilts the bell crank and then causes movement of the slide.

The conventional alarm-tripping mechanism includes a gear 58 on alarm-set shaft El which meshes with an ider pinion 62 on a stub shaft 63. Gear is slidable on shaft 6! and is urged outwardly by a leaf spring 64 (see Figs. 3-5) having a spur 6411 which serves as a mechanical stop for arresting the alarm hammer (not shown). Gear 60 also has the usual side cam 65 cooperating with a radial projection Sla on shaft 62, to release the gear for limited sliding movement on its shaft, thus causing withdrawal of spur 64a, from the hammer at the time for which the alarm is set. Pinion 62 is driven from the minute-hand shaft 66 of the clock train by a gear (not shown) on the same shaft with the pinion 62 and meshing with pinion 48. Pinion 62 drives gear 60 and a gear 88 on which is fixed the hour-hand arbor 69. The details of the alarm mechanism so far described are conventional and form no part of my invention. Spring 64 has an upstanding tongue 70 which slopes rearwardly. Slide 42 has a sloping edge portion ll adapted to engage tongue when the slide is moved downwardly, after tripping of the alarm by cam 55, thus pushing the spring rearwardly and causing the spur 54a to re-engage the hammer or some other portion of the actuating mechanism therefor, and arrest it.

The operation of the restoring mechanism follows automatically after the alarm is initially tripped and the shut-cit stem 55 is depressed. First the bell crank 50 is tilted causing teeth 47 on slide 42 to disengage pinion 48. Next the sloping edge portion ll of slide 42 engages tongue 10 on spring 54 and causes spur 54a to stop the alarm hammer. Finally, release of the pressure on pin 55 permits spring 49 to cause the rack teeth 41 to re-engage pinion 4B. This pinion being on the minute-hand shaft, rotates continuously and, after a predetermined time, it raises slide 42 releasing spring 64 and permitting the alarm hammer to resume vibration. The time required for this depends on the distance upwardly the slide has to travel. An adjustable stop disc l2 controls the distance which the slide travels downwardly when stem 55 is initially depressed and the same distance must he traveled by the slide in moving upwardly. Disc 12 is fixed eccentrically on a shaft 73 journaled in the frame and extending through the wall of the case for manual adjustment.

When it is desired to shut off the alarm finally, preventing further automatic tripping thereof,

block 56 is slid toward. the right after stem 55 has i been pushed down. Pin 58 is thus caused to enter the horizontal portion of slot 59 in the laterally projecting portion 42a of slide 42. This tilts arm 53 of the bellcrank 59 downwardly and holds rack teeth ll out of engagement with pinion .8 indefinitely. This condition is shown in Fig. 6. With the parts in the positions there shown, the conventional alarm-tripping means may be set for operation without the automatic restoring feature, merely by pulling up the pin 55, placing the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 7. With such setting, the alarm will continue to ring indefinitely after tripping oi the usual mechanism including cam 65 and projection Gla. Similarly, when the stem 55 is depressed, the alarm is permanently shut off.

I claim:

1. Mechanism for restoring the shut-off stem of a clock alarm to on position comprising a slide movable on the clock frame and adapted to actuate the conventional alarm arrestor, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said slide for tilting movement thereon between two alternate positions, said lever having rack teeth. on its lower end adapted to mesh with a pinion on the minute-- hand shaft of the clock when the lever is in one of said positions, a spring urging said lever toward said one of said positions, a lost-motion connection between said stem and said slide and means operable by movement of the stem relative to the slide effective to tilt said lever from said one of said positions to the other.

2. Mechanism as defined by claim I characterized by said means including a T--shaped bell crank pivoted on said slide, the crossing portion thereof engaging the lever and the shaft thereof being pivoted to said stem.

3. Mechanism as defined by claim 2 characterized by said lost-motion connection comprising a slot in said slide and a pin on said stem, the

4 shaft of said bell-crank having a slot therein through which said pin extends.

4. Mechanism as defined by claim 2 characterized by said lost-motion connection comprising a slot in said slide and a pin on said stem, said slot including vertical and horizontal portions, and a laterally movable bearing for said stem whereby said pin may be caused to enter the horizontal portion of said first-mentioned slot, said bell-crank shaft being normally at an acute angle to said horizontal slot portion and effective to tilt the bell crank on movement of said bearing to cause the pin to enter the horizontal slot portion.

5. Mechanism as defined by claim 1 characterized by an eccentric discrotatably mounted in alinement with said slide and positioned to be engaged thereby so that said disc serves as an adjustable stop for said slide.

6. In an alarm clock including a minute-hand shaft having a pinion thereon, a leaf spring having means thereon for arresting the alarm vibrator and a manually operable shut-01f stem, the combination therewith of a slide movable on the clock frame adapted to displace the spring, a lost-motion connection between said stem and said slide, a lever pivoted on said slide having rack teeth adapted to engage said pinion, a spring cooperating with said lever to urge the teeth into engagement with the pinion and a member pivoted on said slide and operable by vertical movement of said stem, effective to tilt the lever to a position in which its teeth are disengaged from said pinion.

'7. The combination as defined by claim 6 characterized by said member being a bell crank having an arm engaging said lever and an arm actuated by said stem.

8. The combination as defined by claim 7 characterized :by said first-mentioned arm extending in both directions from the crank pivot and effective to tilt the lever on rocking of the crank in either direction.

9. The combination as defined by claim 6 characterized by said lost-motion connection including a slot in said slide and a projection on said stem entering said slot.

10. The combination as defined by claim 9 characterized by said slot having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, and means mounting said stem for lateral sliding movement whereby said projection 'enters the horizontal portion of said slot, said projection also engaging said member and being effective to tilt it when the profijection enters the horizontal portion of said slo 11. In an alarm clock, a leaf spring having means thereon for arresting the alarm vibrator and a manually operable shut-off stem, the combination therewith of a slide movable on the clock frame adapted to displace said spring, said slide having an angular slot therein including vertical and horizontal portions, a lever pivoted on said slide having rack teeth thereon adapted to engage said pinion, a spring engaging said lever to urge said teeth into engagement with said pinion, a bell crank pivoted on said slide having an arm engaging said lever and adapted to tilt it to cause said teeth to disengage the pinion on rocking of said crank in either direction, said crank having another arm extending across said angular slot and provided with a slot extending therealong, a projection on said stem entering both said slots and a slidable bearing for said stem whereby the stem, when depressed, may be 5 8 moved so that its projection enters the horizontal UNITED STATES PATENTS portion of said angular slot and maintains said Number Name Date hen crank 871,900 Trautman Nov. 26, 190': 12. The combination as defined by claim 6 990 465 Wachtemausen Apr 25 1911 characterized by an adjustable stop member ena 1 12O030 Cook 1914 gageable by said slide effective to limit movement thereof by said stern. t FOREIGN PATENTS EDWARD GORDON Number Country Date 471,689 France July 17, 1914 REFERENCES CITED in 588,559 Germany Nov. 27, 1933 The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

